Freeing Alex (14 page)

He looks at me and he smiles. “You’re a strong woman,
Alexandra Drake, stronger than you think. More beautiful than you think and a
hell of a lot sexier than you think!” he quips, grinning at me, looking down
into me.

I look at him intently, studying his beautiful face, the
broad white smile, the passion in his eyes. “James Aconi. Who are you?” I
whisper.

He hesitates, just looking at me. He’s doing that thing
again when it feels like he’s looking into my soul.

“Why, Mrs Drake, I’m your Hotel General Manager and today I
was tasked with making you feel better. I hope I delivered and achieved my
goal?” He laughs wickedly and kisses the tip of my nose. “Shall we clean up?”

“Well, you certainly did your job today. And no, I want to
stay here.” I pout. “I’m happy lying here with you, I like this.”

“You want to go again?” he teases me. “You want
more
?”

“Yes, sir, please may I have more?” I look at him longingly.

“More…” he booms. “You want more?” He pushes me onto my
back. “So we’re demanding more, are we…? Well, I don’t have a problem with
obliging, are you sure you want
more
?”

“Yes
please
, I’m sure,” I whisper.

He straddles my hips and gives me that look again, straight
into my eyes. He reaches for the bowl he brought with him and I hear the foil
crinkle as he removes it. He sits upright on his knees and produces a huge
strawberry, which he kisses. He places the strawberry on my lips but pulls it
away quickly when I try to bite it. He trails the fruit lazily between my
breasts – the act is so erotic – and then around each nipple in turn, while he
tweaks my nipples with his other hand. The concentration on his face is
unbreakable.

I’m still turned on and my sex starts to throb again. I
wriggle beneath him. He continues the strawberry’s trail down each of my sides,
my skin tingling. He leans forward and takes my nipple in his mouth, sucking
and nipping the engorged pearl hard enough to cause me to moan, but there is no
pain as he grazes his teeth across, just pleasure as he withdraws from the
tender flesh. I reach up and run my fingers through his hair, urging him,
wanting him to give much, much more.

He pauses. He moves down my body slightly, guiding the red
soft fruit further down until it passes my mound. Gently he guides the sensual
little fruit across my labia. I cry out, I feel as though I could climax from
this act alone. I close my eyes and arch my back. 

“Open your eyes, Alex,” he whispers, and as I do he takes
the fruit and bites into it.

“Oh. My. God!” I whimper.

He feeds me what’s left of the fruit as my insides clench,
wishing for his cock to be inside me. I run my fingers over his chest, through
the smattering of hair. I want this like I’ve never wanted anything else, ever
before.

As he leans forward I feel his cock, hard and ready against
my stomach. “Are you ready, Alexandra Drake?” he asks.

“Umm.”

“This is going to be fast and hard,” he whispers. “Very
hard!”

“And very fast,” I gasp, finishing his sentence off for him.

He finds my entrance and he rams home. “Wrap your legs
around me,” he orders.

He pumps into me, battering me, I can feel his balls slap
against my arse as he pounds. He’s grunting as I cling on tightly, I never want
this to end. I can feel myself coming again. “James, I….”

“I know,” he growls.

“Umm…” My voice is hoarse. “Yes, but I’m coming, James,
James!” I cry out.

He releases and I shudder again.

He holds me gently as I run my fingers over his firm back.
We lie for what feels like hours, wrapped in each other. 

“We really need to get up, Alex, it’s five o’clock,” he
mumbles.

“Five, really. Do I have to?” My voice is dry, I sound so
croaky.

“Well, you don’t. I booked the room for you until tomorrow,
but I should really go.” He starts to stand, to move away from me.

“No, please don’t, stay with me,” I plead. “Please don’t
go.”

He rolls off me and to my side. “What about Anna? Won’t she
want to come in and spend some time with you?” 

“She’ll be okay, she’s got the TV and her phone, she’ll be
talking to Katie. She can order some food and have it sent to her room. Please
stay, please.” I’m practically begging. I really don’t want to be on my own
tonight; I’ve had a bad day but he, the Bossman, makes it all feel so much more
bearable, much better. He makes
me
feel good.

“James, I’m scared to be by myself – what if Lewis turns up
again?” And I am, I’m absolutely petrified.

“I don’t think he was here to start with.” He strokes my
cheek tenderly. “I had Roger sweep the hotel, no sign of him. He checked the
CCTV. He may have been in the area but it’s unlikely he was in the hotel.”

“Are you sure? How did he know where I was, who I was eating
with? You don’t know what he looks like. How do you know he wasn’t here?”
Thoughts of Lewis hiding somewhere in the hotel play out in my mind. He must
have been here, otherwise how would he have known I was with James and Anna at
lunchtime?

He starts to move away from me. “Please don’t go, please,” I
beg, on the verge of tears.

“We didn’t see anyone that looked like they didn’t fit in.
Alex, look, blossom, I need to go. I have no clothes here, they’re all at my
mate’s place, I need fresh clothes.” He’s firm.

Deep down, I know I’ll be okay here, my head’s telling me
that I’ll be fine. I’m in the hotel, security have been told about Lewis,
they’ll be keeping an eye out for him and I’m locked in a room, and if Lewis
did get in, he doesn’t know which room I’m in! A quick reality check, yes, I
know I’ll be just fine, I really will.

”Okay, okay,.” I being strong, I am going to get over my old
life, I am going to move on, I have to and
want
to

He sits on the side of the bed and pulls me up towards him,
holding my hands in his. “Why don’t you get dressed and you can wait for me in
the foyer. You know Roger, I’ll let him know that you’re here on your own,
he’ll keep you company if you want him to.” His tone remains firm.

I smile,  and nod in acknowledgement but at the same time it
occurs to me that maybe James
is
taking advantage of me. Does he see me
as a quick lay, because I’m vulnerable? And who’s he going to see that means he
can’t come back tonight?

“You promise you’re not using me, are you? I’m not just one
of those other girls.” I find a sudden rush of confidence and look directly at
him, looking into his eyes for any sign that he’s not being truthful. I don’t
want him to go. For the first time in forever I feel wanted.

He sits beside me. “You know I haven’t seen anyone since
before I met you Alex, and I wouldn’t, not now,” he shakes his head, “there
won’t
ever
be anyone else Alex.”

“What if I said I wanted to come with you, insisted? What if
I stamp my feet?” I smile playfully.

“Then I would have to put you over my knee and smack your
bottom!” he says flatly, his face deadpan.

I stand and stamp my feet and look at him defiantly.

“Right, Alexandra!” he shouts playfully.

 I scram and run to the other side of the room. Heaven knows
what I look like, a forty-two-year-old naked woman with a few saggy bits
running around a hotel bedroom being chased by a thirty-something hunk!

I run out of places to go and he catches up with me. Pulling
me into his embrace, I snuggle into his shoulder. “Not going to smack your bum
this time, Alexandra Drake, but do it again and I will, I swear,” he growls
into the side of my neck. I feel so warm and safe with him.

I move from his shoulder and look directly up at him. He’s
smiling. “You’re joking – right?” I ask.

“Nope, I really will smack your bum if you’re naughty
again.” There’s no emotion in his face at all.

“Well, James Aconi, lover, toy boy,
Bossman
, The
Great Aconi! I’ll just have to be naughty, won’t I?” I smile.

“Bossman?” he snaps, sort of laughing.

“Yup, good innit?” I laugh at my own impression of a
teenager,
innit
being something that I regularly hear from Anna.

“Bossman?” he complains. “Boss. Man!”

“Like it?” I smile at him.

“No!” he says flatly.

“Oh, well you’d better get used to it!” I laugh.

I flounce to the bathroom and shower quickly using the
hotel-supplied shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. It’s not bad, this stuff
that I give away to my guests.

Once I’m clean and rinsed I dry off quickly and wrap a towel
around me. I don’t have any toiletries or makeup so I can’t do much else. I
walk back to the main room and see James sitting on the edge of the bed,
flicking through the TV channels. He looks up at me.

“Do not call me Bossman!” he commands.

“Why?”

“Just don’t.” He stands and throws the TV remote on the bed.

I ignore him and start to dress in my discarded underwear,
jeans and shirt. I run my fingers through my hair, I haven’t got a comb or
brush, so I blast it quickly with the dryer that’s provided in the room. A good
job my hair is dead straight and I never have to worry about bad hair days,
otherwise I’d be in a mess.

By the time I’ve dried my hair, James is out of the shower
and back beside me with a towel wrapped around his waist.

“So,
Bossman
,” I say, doing it deliberately now, to
wind him up. He glares at me.

I smile sweetly. “How long are you going to be at your
mate’s? Do you want to eat with me this evening or have you got other business
you need to attend to?” I was going to cook at home but I guess that plan will
have to be shelved.

He unwraps the towel from around those fine hips and starts
to dress. “I hadn’t given it any thought, other than handing over to Robbie and
coming over to yours, until this happened,” he muses.

I shrug. “I’m sorry. Well, I really don’t want to be on my
own, Lewis freaked me out this afternoon. I don’t mind staying with Roger
downstairs or if you come home with me, but I don’t want either me or Anna to
be at home on our own.” I pause, looking at him. “Too scary. I need to know
where Lewis is!” I say quietly. Half of what’s spewed from my mouth has been my
thoughts, thinking aloud.

He places a hand on my shoulder, squeezing gently.
“Understandable. You may as well stay here for the night, the room’s booked out
anyway. I think Anna got you some toiletries and stuff.”

“Okay, as long as Action Man knows I’m here on my own and as
long as he doesn’t mind me bothering him if I need to,” I say.

He laughs. “Action Man? Who the hell’s Action Man?” 

“Oops, sorry, shouldn’t have said that.” I feel the need to
explain. “Remember that very first day when I came to meet you; you weren’t
very nice, were you? Well, Roger met me in reception, as you know, and I
thought he looked like Action Man, he’s certainly shaped like one!”

James laughs hysterically, he’s practically rolling around.

Once he’s in control of himself we head down to the foyer
and he hands me over to Roger’s care. Roger, Action Man, wouldn’t look out of
place in a James Bond film and is still wearing that bloody ear piece.
Is
that just for show?

I ask one of the receptionists to ring up to Anna’s room and
tell her that I’m down here if she wants to come down to me, then I find a seat
on one of the comfortable sofas in the foyer. I sink into the soft leather and
just watch the world go by.

Anna drops by and we eat in the bar. It’s soon close to ten
and, despite napping this afternoon and not doing very much, apart from some
great sex, I’m tired, very tired. I think Anna is done in too; we both head off
to our rooms a little after 10.30 p.m. I tell Roger that I’m going up to my
room. I have no idea where James is, I really thought he’d be back. When we
arrive on the first floor and our rooms, I give my daughter a hug and tell her
to be careful, not to open her door to
anyone
until she knows who it is.
She reassures me that she’ll be fine and tells me to stop worrying.

Once I’m in my room I get ready for bed, use the bathroom
and brush my teeth. I’ve just pulled the bed covers back when there’s a knock
at the door, and my phone pings at the same time with a text. My heart pounds
as I walk as quietly as I can to the door; using the spy hole I see that it’s
one of the bell boys.

“Who is it?” I ask anyway.

“Sam sent me up, Mrs Drake. I’ve a delivery for you.” I hear
the muffled voice through the door.

“Okay, give me a second.” I pull on the white robe before
opening up. I stand to face one of the young bell boys with a small white box,
which he hands to me.

“Thank you,” glancing at his name badge, I add, “Matt.”

“You’re welcome, Mrs Drake, sleep well.” And he’s gone.

I perch on the edge of my bed and open the small box. It’s
just like the boxes that special chocolates come in. Inside I find pale pink
tissue paper and a little note.

They’re really very good for you!

XX

Unwrapping the tissue I find half a dozen chocolate-covered
strawberries, big ones. What is it with him and strawberries! I’ve just brushed
my teeth, but so what, I sit and devour the juicy fruits whilst checking my
phone. There’s a text from James.

Sorry, got delayed. C U 2morrow. Hve spoken to Roger.

Sleep well. J XX

I smile as I slip between the crisp white sheets. I feel
eighteen all over again!

I wake at 8am, late for me, very
late – proof that I was exhausted from a terrible and highly emotional day
yesterday. Well, mostly terrible. I am aware of the ache between my legs, which
reminds me that some parts were exquisite!

Anna got me some cosmetics and toiletries and I have some
fresh clothes, albeit the ones that I bought new yesterday. Katie arrives
today, late morning. Following a change of plan, we’ve arranged with James for
him to collect her, he doesn’t know what she looks like and she doesn’t know
him either so Anna has told Katie to look out for the white Audi R8 and given
her a description of the car, including the registration number. We just have
to hope that they find each other!

I drag myself out of bed and into the shower. Once I dry I
look through my purchases and find a simple black dress suitable for today. I
also wear my new sexy underwear. I don’t plan on doing much and hope to get
home at some point. James has the weekend off and I’m really looking forward to
some quality time with him.

I ring through to Anna’s room and find that, like me, she
has only just woken.

“Shall we meet for breakfast?” I ask.

I hear her yawning. “Sure, what time is it, Mum?”

“Can you be ready for nine? Come down to the restaurant. I’ll
go down now, okay? Meet you there?”

“Yeah, Mum, whatever. Is this room booked out for me and
Katie?” she asks.

“It’s all sorted, don’t worry.”

I hang up and finish getting myself ready for what I would
like to be a relaxing day. I haven’t seen James yet. He didn’t come back last
night, instead texting me to say that he’d got delayed at his friend’s and of
course I got the strawberries. I can’t help but wonder what it is with the
strawberries, are they a favourite of his? 

I leave my room and make my way to the lift. It’s only one
floor but I don’t feel like walking. The ding signals that I have reached the
ground floor and I walk briskly through to the restaurant, taking in the
surroundings of my hotel, the hustle and bustle and comings and goings, it’s
busy.

“Morning,” I say to the chappie standing at the front of the
restaurant. “No Marcus today?”

“It’s his day off. How can I help?” He’s a pleasant young
man, very well turned out, but then with Marcus in charge I wouldn’t expect
anything else.

“Anna and I will be taking breakfast this morning…” I look
at his name badge, “…Mark. So table for two, please… On second thoughts, make
that three, just in case James joins us.”

“Follow me, Madam.” He picks up a couple of the leatherbound
menus and guides me to a table in the centre of the room.

“Do you have a table around the edge?” I ask. I hate sitting
in the middle.

“Yes, if that’s what you prefer,” he says.

I point to an empty table that’s laid and ready to be used.
“What about that one?” 

“Of course.”

I sit and browse the breakfast menu whilst waiting for Anna,
and possibly James, although I’m not sure if he’s going to join us.

I’m not approached straightaway by the waiting staff,
something that Mark must notice too. He returns to the table. “May I arrange for
some tea or coffee whilst you wait?”

“Please – tea, Assam, would be great. I don’t believe we’ve
actually been introduced.” I offer him my hand. “I’m Alex Drake.”

“Mrs Drake, as in the hotel’s…?”

“Owner, that’s right.” I finish his sentence for him.

“Well, it’s good to meet you. I wondered when I’d get to
meet you, at least I can put a face to the name now. I’ll arrange for your
tea.” He walks away with a little smile and a spring in his step.

I sit, pondering the extensive breakfast menu when Anna arrives.
She bends down and gives me a peck on the cheek. “Morning, Mum. How’re you
feeling today? Better?”

“I’m fine, Anna, much better. Nothing that… Yes, I feel
great, thank you.” And I do, a little sore between the legs, but it’s a nice
sort of sore. Gosh, I think I’m starting to become wet just thinking about
yesterday afternoon, Lordy!

“Nothing that what, Mum?” she asks.

Oh hell
, I think,
engage brain, Alex, loose lips
on the rampage again.

“Nothing, ignore me.” Change of subject needed, incredibly
quickly. “What time does Katie get here?”

“Ten forty-five. James is still okay to pick her up?” she
asks.

“He said he was. I thought he may have met us for breakfast.
If he doesn’t appear by the time we’ve finished I’ll give him a call.”

Anna glances over the menu. “What you having?”

“I fancy the Haddock Monte Carlo, sounds lovely. You know, I
haven’t had haddock for breakfast for years, your gran used to do it for your
granddad some weekends, when I was little. I always used to pinch a bit off his
plate.” I’m drawn back to the time of innocence, before I knew who I really was
and before I met the charming young Lewis who would sweep me off my feet, steal
me from my family home, undergo some kind of metamorphosis and transform into a
bastard.

“Sounds good, but I’ll probably have a big lunch with Katie,
sooo I think I’ll just have a plain omelette, if they can do that for me –
there’s nothing particularly plain on this menu!” she says as she continues to
read the extensive breakfast menu.

“I’m sure that Joseph’s team can organise that.”

“Joseph?” Anna questions.

“Umm, he’s the executive chef, in charge in the kitchen,” I
explain.

“Executive chef? Exactly what does an
executive
chef
do that a regular chef doesn’t?” she mutters.

“Unsure, maybe we should ask him when he’s not busy!”

We laugh. This is very pleasant, I feel quite at home here
and contemplate what will happen when Anna leaves
me alone in that big
house. If Maggie rented the Chelsea home out, where did she live? Now that’s
something I need to find out. I wonder if James knows? There are so many
questions that I still don’t have answers to. I don’t even know where Maggie is
laid to rest, and as for my birth father, well, that’s a mystery. And where did
the money come from to start off with?

Lola approaches us. “Morning, Mrs Drake, Miss Drake.” She
remembers our names, can’t be that much of an airhead. “Are you ready to
order?”

“Please, Lola. I’ll have the Haddock Monte Carlo and Anna
would like a plain omelette, if that can be arranged.”

“A good choice with the Haddock. I’ll check on the omelette,
shouldn’t be a problem.” She jots the order down.

“Mark took my order for tea when I first arrived. Can you
hurry that along?” I ask, I’m parched.

“Not a problem, I’ll sort it for you.” She frowns. Her
customer service skills certainly seem spot on, although she looks harassed
today. I hope that Mark isn’t giving her a hard time, she’s a lovely girl and I
would hate to see her move on just because Marcus and Mark are being too
demanding. She’s well turned out, polite, and from what I can see, she’s also
very efficient.

Anna and I sit with our tea and chat about what she has
planned for herself and Katie today.

“We’re going clubbing tonight,” she tells me with a huge
smile. “I can’t wait, I sorted out what I’m wearing. Can I borrow that divine
new top you bought yesterday, the one with the silver sparkles running through
it?” She’s so excited about her night out with Katie.

“It’ll be too big for you, sweetheart, all my tops are a
size fourteen. You’re a six! You can try it on, or you can pop and get one for
yourself. I take it you and Katie will be going shopping today?” I don’t know
why I ask her that, because I know they will be.

“Yes, but not for long, we need to rest and prepare for
tonight.” I can see the cogs of her mind working – she’s fiddling with her
cutlery, her head whirring, planning her evening on the tiles.

“Have you got your identification with you? Just in case you
need to prove your age anywhere. Make sure your phone’s fully charged and for
heaven’s sake don’t take your cards with you, just take cash and please,
please, please be careful. Where are you going to? Do you want me to arrange
for you to go to Henry’s, the place that I co-own?” I rapid-fire questions at
her. I need to be sure that she’ll be safe: going clubbing in London and going
to the local pub in the village that she grew up in are two totally different
beasts. In the wrong company, Anna and Katie will be eaten alive and here’s me
offering to arrange for her to go to Henry’s when I have no idea what sort of
place it is.

“You could do. I had a look at that on the web, it’s got a
VIP area. Can we go in there? And we will be careful, Mum, you worry too much,”
she insists.

I know I worry unnecessarily, but I’ve reason to: my
beautiful young daughter and her friend let loose in London on their own – at
night, too! “I take it Katie’s parents know that you’re planning on doing this.
She has told them?” I frown at Anna. I hope Katie’s parents know and approve, I
would hate to have to break the news that their daughter has been injured
whilst in my care, despite the fact that legally they’re both adults!

I look up and see Lola walking with two plates, in our
direction. “Breakfast’s here,” I mutter to Anna.

“The Haddock Monte Carlo,” she says. “Mrs Drake, that was
for you, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, Lola, that looks delicious.” I glance at the
beautifully presented breakfast.

“And a plain omelette for Miss Drake.”

She places the omelette down in front of Anna.

“It’s Anna, please. I don’t like being called Miss Drake!”
Anna huffs.

Lola looks so serious. “Oh, I don’t think Mark would like me
to call you Anna, I’m sorry.”

“Nonsense.” I look at Lola. “If Anna wants to be addressed
as Anna, then that’s what she will be called, and if Mark or Marcus has a
problem with that, please tell either one of them to speak to me personally and
I’ll put them right.”

“Thank you, Mrs Drake. I’ve more tea here for you, too.” She
moves quickly and returns with a tray and a fresh pot of tea, more milk and
more sugar. Once placed on the table she more or less bows and moves away
backwards. What is it with the bowing and the restaurant staff? “Enjoy your breakfast.”
She turns and walks over to several tables that have been vacated and need
clearing.

We eat in silence, the food is delicious. I glance up and
see James coming through the archway. He has a word with Mark as he walks past
the lectern and nods at one or two of the waiting staff as he approaches us.

“Morning, Alex, Anna. Sorry I didn’t make it back last
night, but I’m here now. What time do I need to pick your friend up from
Euston? More to the point, you have told her that I’ll be collecting her in the
R8, and that’s at your house!” A matter of logistics that I don’t think any of
us had thought of.

“Ten forty-five, and oh!” I say. “Well, you and Anna can
take a cab back to Chelsea and collect the car. If Anna’s staying here tonight
she’ll need to collect some things from home anyway, won’t you, sweetheart?” I
have another sudden rush of confidence, assertiveness.

Anna looks up from her food to James. “You don’t mind, do
you? I can stuff some things in a bag and you can drop me back here before you
go and pick Katie up?”

He signals over to one of the waiting staff and says,
“Coffee, please,” before returning to our conversation. “No problem, I can do
that for you. We’ll need to be quick if I’ve got to get you back here and then
get to Euston for ten forty-five. In fact—” he looks at his watch, “—we need to
go now. Let me have a quick coffee and we’ll head off. You can text Katie from
the cab, let her know to wait if I’m a few minutes late.”

Anna finishes her omelette and quickly drinks her tea. “I’ll
just visit the loo before we go.” She dabs her mouth with her napkin and makes
for the ladies.

“So, are you okay this morning?” James asks. He’s smiling,
just slightly mischievously.

“I’m sore,” I whisper, and shift uncomfortably in my seat.

“Good, then I’ve done a good job!” He laughs. “Maybe we can
fuck the soreness away today?”

“James…” I whisper, giggling, “someone may hear.”

“Nobody will hear, it’s too busy. So, what are you planning
to do today, apart from trying to get rid of the soreness, which I can help
with, of course. It’s my weekend off, so if you want me I’m here, for lots of
things!” He winks at me, that gorgeous smile making me melt.

“I hadn’t really thought about what I’d like to do. Just
relax, I suppose, I’m all shopped out. But – I tell you what I was thinking
about.” I smile.

“What’s that?” he asks.

“I think I’m going to buy another car, a bigger one, and I’m
also thinking about getting a driver, you know I hate driving around London.
What do you think?” I share my thoughts.

“I don’t think it would be a bad idea,
but
are you
going to get over your fear if you just push it to one side and let someone
else drive you?” he asks, his question quite pertinent.

“No, but it would solve several problems. It would mean that
I never have to worry about the driving, about the parking or about Anna
wanting to go here and there on public transport at all hours. I just think
it’s a good idea, it would be useful for the hotel too, to be able to offer a
chauffeur service, don’t you think? It’s not as if we can’t afford it?” I add,
pleading my case.

“It’s up to you, nothing to do with me really.” He holds his
hands up.

“No, but I value your opinion. I’ve no-one else to discuss
these things with, only Anna and, well, she’s a teenager after all, she doesn’t
have the life experience that you and I have.” And it’s true, I don’t have
anyone else to discuss things with and Anna, although she is my daughter and I
love her dearly, she is really only
just
an adult.

“Arrange it then. I’ve got some recruitment agency numbers
in my office. We can’t do anything until Monday, they’ll be closed today, but I
know that they’ll be able to help with drivers and chauffeurs.” He takes a
drink of his coffee. “Ring them, I’m sure you will have a driver by Friday!” he
suggests.